The Guide Played Her Role as a Stand-in a Little Too Well - Chapter 17
I felt something similar too.
It was eerie. A sensation of some power flowing within me.
My grip tightened with increased strength.
“What are you doing?”
I pried his hand off with a displeased expression.
Considering my position, it was an impulsive action, but Esban in front of me seemed oblivious, his spirit drained to the point where he couldn’t even notice.
“I believe the conversation is over.”
I responded with a stoic expression, causing Esban’s eyebrows to twitch.
“Ho-Hold on a moment.”
He stared at me with a desperate expression. Unlike before, his wavering gaze was noticeable.
“Just a moment.”
“….”
“Just a little longer… please.”
I feigned ignorance of Esban’s desperation.
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t quite catch that. Could you please repeat what you said?”
Esban’s lips trembled at my words.
He was struggling right now. Would he bend his pride or maintain it?
Though he ignored me, it was eerie to see his face filled with distress.
Because he disliked exploiting the weak.
Just like I didn’t choose to be a guide, he didn’t choose to be an esper.
It was nothing more than a coincidence.
‘This should be enough.’
I decided to let it go graciously.
After all, we were in a situation where we needed to continue cooperating.
“If… if you…”
I took Esban’s hand as he wandered aimlessly, seeming lost. He flinched.
“If you tell me your name, I’ll stay like this.”
Despite trembling as if he didn’t want to touch me, Esban ultimately couldn’t resist the temptation.
“…Esban Cairoze.”
As he finished his introduction, almost spitting it out, his fingers, like tendrils of a sprout, wrapped around mine in agreement.
Soon, he tightly grasped my hand on his own.
“…Hah.”
Esban’s labored breaths gradually steadied.
‘…Something’s leaving.’
With closed eyes, Esban leaned against the back of the sofa. In less than 10 seconds, his breathing became faint.
‘No way…’
He had just been arguing with me moments ago. A formidable sword master.
‘Is he really sleeping?’
I stared at Esban in disbelief.
I couldn’t believe it, but the saying “sleep catches people” turned out to be true.
His breaths were so heavy that it was impossible to gauge how long it had been since he fell asleep.
‘This is unbelievable.’
Laughter burst out of me.
The situation was amusing, but I could use his unexpected sleep as a leverage, so it was advantageous for me.
Anyway, he was the benefactor who closed the dungeon near the slums where I often visit, so I decided to let him sleep for a while.
Sitting on the sofa beside him, I got lost in my thoughts.
The maids who were supposed to come soon didn’t show up.
It seemed like something had happened to the Apharantes Duke after all.
There couldn’t have been anything wrong with the person who was perfectly fine in the mansion until this morning…
‘Did he have a disagreement with Hedonia?’
I doubted that Hedonia, who had just confidently spoken to me earlier, would have returned to his room obediently.
Could it be that he’s arguing with Robert to improve his treatment towards me?
For a moment, my head spun.
‘…Is this what guiding is all about?’
Energy drained from me rapidly.
It was as quick as someone struggling in water.
“Haa.”
I nearly collapsed from dizziness.
Esban’s grip on my hand grew stronger and stronger.
However, looking at Esban peacefully asleep, it seemed like it wasn’t a conscious decision.
What drove him to seek me out now was his instinct.
It was as if he had stumbled upon an oasis in the desert and was hastily drawing upon my strength.
Even though I felt a sense of accomplishment, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by this newfound power.
‘This is more tiring than I thought.’
Moreover, sitting in this comfortable place, fatigue washed over me in an instant.
My eyes closed involuntarily, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
* * *
Karina’s intuition was correct.
Robert Apharantes was late because of a sudden argument with Hedonia.
“If you’re going to involve me, make sure I’m properly compensated. Don’t leave me to clean up the mess.”
Although he had made a contract with Karina and ensured the safety of his child, Robert still disliked Karina.
So, Hedonia saw through the fact that he was quietly assigning other tasks.
‘It’s fortunate, but…’
Even as I escorted Karina to her room, I couldn’t help but feel anxious about whether Hedonia would refuse.
But that child did it.
He managed to sway Hedonia’s heart.
With a stern expression, Robert flipped through the documents in front of him.
With a raised eyebrow, Robert looked at the child before him.
“Is he only here because of that girl?”
To think that the only reason he came after so long was for this, as a father, he couldn’t help but feel deeply disappointed.
And with the delay caused by Hedonia, the time to visit Esban had also been pushed back, which made it even worse.
‘I need to guide Esban soon…’
By now, Karina should have started discussing her role as a stand-in.
Robert had never liked contact guiding, where guidance was done solely through physical touch.
In fact, he had always felt awkward about it.
Knowing that guiding was considered his most sacred achievement and a chain that bound people, he felt even more uncomfortable.
He couldn’t allow more than just a touch.
“Is that child really that important?”
Robert raised his head again and stared at Hedonia.